Garment with two improved underarm shields

ABSTRACT

A garment with two improved, underarm perspiration shields each including an inner comfort layer, at least one middle absorbent layer, and an outer water-proof barrier layer. The inner comfort layer is placed against the user&#39;s skin and designed to readily absorb perspiration from the skin and immediately transfer it to the middle absorbent layers. The middle absorbent layers draw the perspiration away from the comfort layer and dissipate the perspiration thereover. The outer barrier layer is located on the opposite side of the middle absorbent layers and designed to prevent perspiration from being transferred to the surround garment material. During manufacturing, the layers are aligned, registered, and sewn along their center axis to the garment&#39;s side seam. The outer edges of the layers are unattached thereby forming side flaps that are exposed to air and able to dry quickly. The upper edge of each shield may be contoured and sewn to the edge of the garments sleeve opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to garments with underarm shields and, moreparticularly, to such garments in which the shields provide greaterprotection and are less conspicuous when the garment is worn as an undergarment or over garment.

2. Description of the Related Art

Garments with shields or pads sewn in the underarm areas of the garmentare relatively common. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,425 discloses anundergarment with permanently attached undersarm shields each designedto absorb a minimum of 2 fl. oz of perspiration. The outer perimeteredge of each shield is sewn directly onto the inside surface of thegarment. Each shield includes an inner layer made of the same materialas the garment, a thick middle layer made of absorbent material designedto absorb a minimum of 2 fl. oz, and an outer layer made of pliablewaterproof material.

One purpose of underarm shields is of course, to prevent perspirationmarks or stains on the outer garment. Another purpose of underarmshields is to reduce odor. One drawback with underarm shields sewnaround their perimeter edges to the garment is that when the garment iswashed and dried, the shields and adjacent garment material shrink atdifferent rates thereby creating wrinkles that are visible when thegarment is worn. Another drawback with shields sewn around theirperimeter edges to the garment is that round or oval-shaped thread linesare created under the underarm areas that may be visible to others whenthe garment is worn as an outer garment.

A further drawback with underarm shields found in the prior art is thatthey include only have one thick absorbent layer that retains moisture.Because the absorbent layer retains moisture, the inner layer locatedagainst the skin remains wet, which causes an odor.

What is needed is a garment with improved underarm shields that areresistant to wrinkling, are attached to the garment in an inconspicuousmanner when the garment is worn as an outer garment, and are constructedso that the inner layer located against the skin dries out relativelyquickly to reduce odor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved garmentwith two underarm shields to protect against perspiration.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a garmentin which the shields have a low side profile and are attached to thegarment in an inconspicuous manner so that the garment may be worneither as an outer or inner garment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such agarment which is odor resistant.

These and other objects that will become apparent are met by the garmentdisclosed herein that includes two improved underarm perspirationshields each including an inner lightweight comfort layer, at least oneslightly thicker middle absorbent layer, and an outer barrier layer.When the garment is worn, the inner comfort layer, which is made oflightweight, combed cotton, is placed against the user's skin anddesigned to readily absorb perspiration from the skin and immediatelytransfer the perspiration to the middle absorbent layer. The middleabsorbent layer which is made of relatively thin, heavy weight cotton,is designed to readily absorb perspiration from the inner comfort layer.Located adjacent to the middle absorbent layer is an outer barrier layerdesigned to block transfer of perspiration from the middle layer ontothe garment surface.

The shield's layers are aligned, registered and sewn together aroundtheir perimeter edges. When the garment is manufactured, thelongitudinally center axis of each shield is aligned and sewn into thegarment's longitudinal aligned side seam so that no additional threadlines or stitching is seen on the garment thereby enabling the garmentto be used as an outer garment if desired. Except for a seam alignedover the shield's center axis, the inside portion of each layer isunattached thereby allowing air to circulate between them. Also, whenthe shields are used on short sleeve garments, the upper edge of eachshield may be contoured to match the edge around the sleeve opening andthen sewn thereto to tightly hold the shield against the garment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a t-shirt with two shields attached tothe underarm areas on the shirt.

FIG. 2 is a sectional, side elevational view of the shirt garment takenalong line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a short sleeve garment with the sleeveturned inside-out so that one shield may be seen.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to the view shown in FIG. 3 withthe shield partially broken away.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a shield attached to the underarm areaof a garment showing the shield moved to an offset position relative thegarment's side axis line.

FIG. 6 is a sectional, side elevational view of the shirt similar to theview shown in FIG. 2 showing a shield with three middle absorbentlayers.

FIG. 7 is a sectional, side elevational view of the shirt similar to theviews shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 showing a shield with four middle absorbentlayers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to the accompanying Figs., there is shown a garment 6 thatincludes two improved underarm perspiration shields 10, 10′ designed toprovide protection against perspiration yet are inconspicuous when thegarment is worn as an outer garment or as an inner garment. Each shield10 includes an inner comfort layer 15 one or two separate middleabsorbent layers 20, 30, and an outer barrier layer 40. The innercomfort layer 15 is made of lightweight, soft cotton that when placedagainst the user's skin, readily absorbs perspiration 90. The middleabsorbent layers 20, 30 are made of heavy thicker cotton, designed todraw perspiration 90 away from the inner comfort layer 15 so that it maydissipated and evaporated over a greater surface area. The outer barrierlayer 40 is located on the opposite side of the middle absorbent layers20, 30 and designed to prevent perspiration from being transferred tothe surround garment.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, during manufacturing the layers 15, 20, 30,40 are aligned, registered, and sewn together along their perimeteredges 16, 21, 31, 41, respectfully. Because the inner layer 15 andmiddle absorbent layers 20, 30 are made of breathable material, air isable to circulate around and through the layers 15, 20 and 30 therebypromoting evaporation. It should also be noted that because each shieldis attached only to the side seam 7 of the garment 6, duringmanufacturing, the location of the shields may be adjusted. For example,FIGS. 3 and 4 shows a shield 10 aligned and sewn along its centervertical axis 13 to the garment's side seams 7. In FIG. 5, the shield 10is shown slightly offset in a forward direction with its center verticalaxis 13 slightly in front of the side seam 7 to provide greaterprotection against perspiration on the pectoral region.

An important feature is that the outer perimeter edge 11 of each shield10, 10′, is detached from the garment 6, thereby enabling greatermovement of the shields and independently shrink when laundered. Afterseveral uses and cleaning cycles, the garments remain comfortable andare relatively wrinkle free in the underarm area. Also, when used onshort sleeve garments, the upper edge 12 of each shield 10, 10′ may becontoured and attached to the exposed edge 9 of the sleeve 8 to securelyhold the shield 10 tightly against the inside surface of the sleeve 8and inconspicuous.

It should be understood that that the number of middle absorbent layers20, 30 may vary depending on the amount of protection needed and how thegarment is worn. For example, if the garment is used by a heavyperspiring user, shields with three to more middle absorbent layers maybe used (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Even though such shields are slightlythicker, the garment is still relatively comfortable and the shields arestill inconspicuous because the shields are only sewn to the garment'sside seams and because layers are only sewn together along theirperimeter edges. For normal users, who are interested in protection,comfort and hidden use, shields with one to two middle absorbent layersare sufficient.

In the preferred embodiment, the inner comfort layer 15 is made oflightweight combed cotton, which is smoother and more comfortable thancotton typically used with cotton T-shirts. Each middle absorbent layer20, 30 is made of heavy weight cotton such as fleece cotton (12 oz)which is relatively thin, highly absorbent, yet can be easily machinewashed or dried. The outer barrier layer 40 is made of waterproof,lightweight and flexible nylon or vinyl and approximately 1 mil inthickness. The outer barrier 40 layer resists shrinkage and isrelatively fast drying.

In compliance with the statute, the invention described herein has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features.It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited tothe specific features shown, since the means and construction shown iscomprised only of the preferred embodiments for putting the inventioninto effect. The invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amendedclaims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine ofequivalents.

1. A garment with two improved underarm shields, comprising: a. agarment with two underarm areas, two sleeve openings, and two sidecenter axes; and, b. two underarm shields, each said shield including anupper edge and a center longitudinal axis, each said shield beingattached to said garment along a vertical seam parallel to said sidecenter axis, each said shield including a lower comfort layer, at leastone inner absorbent layer, and an upper water-proof barrier layer, saidinner layer, said middle layer, said outer layers being aligned andregistered and attached together along their perimeter edges.
 2. Thegarment as recited in claim 1, wherein said upper edge of each saidshield is contoured and attached to said sleeve opening on said garment.3. The garment as recited in claim 1, wherein said vertical seam isaligned with said side center axis on said garment.
 4. The garment asrecited in claim 3, wherein said upper edge of each said shield isattached to said sleeve opening on said garment.
 5. The garment asrecited in claim 1, wherein said inner comfort layer is made of cotton.6. The garment as recited in claim 1, wherein said middle absorbentlayers in each said shield absorbs up to 1.9 fl. oz of perspiration. 7.The garment as recited in claim 6, wherein each said middle absorbentlayer is made of cotton.
 8. The garment as recited in claim 1, whereineach said shield includes a lower comfort layer, three, stacked middleadsorbent layers, and an upper barrier layer.
 9. A garment with twoimproved underarm shields, comprising: a. a garment with two underarmareas, two sleeve openings, and two side center axes; and, b. twounderarm shields, each said shield including an upper edge and a centerlongitudinal axis, each said shield being attached to said garment alonga vertical seam parallel to said side center axis, each said shieldincluding a lower comfort layer, at least two inner absorbent layers,and an upper water-proof barrier layer, said layers being aligned andregistered and attached together along their perimeter edges.
 10. Thegarment as recited in claim 9, wherein said upper edge of each saidshield is contoured and attached to said sleeve opening on said garment.11. The garment as recited in claim 9, wherein said vertical seam isaligned with said side center axis on said garment.
 12. The garment asrecited in claim 11, wherein said upper edge of each said shield isattached to said sleeve opening on said garment.
 13. The garment asrecited in claim 9, wherein said inner comfort layer is made of cotton.14. The garment as recited in claim 9, wherein said middle absorbentlayers in each said shield absorbs up to 1.9 fl. oz of perspiration. 15.A garment with two improved underarm shields, comprising: a. a garmentwith two underarm areas, two sleeve openings, and two side seams; and,b. two underarm shields located on opposite sides of said garment, eachsaid shield being longitudinally aligned in said underarm area of saidgarment and being attached to said side seams and to said sleeve openingthereby reducing the visibility of said shields under said garment whensaid garment is worn.
 16. The garment as recited in claim 15, whereinsaid upper edge of each said shield is contoured and attached to saidsleeve opening on said garment.
 17. The garment as recited in claim 15,wherein said middle absorbent layers in each said shield absorbs up to1.9 fl. oz of perspiration.
 18. The garment as recited in claim 15,wherein said middle absorbent layers in each said shield absorbs up to1.9 fl. oz of perspiration.
 19. The garment as recited in claim 15,wherein each said middle absorbent layer is made of cotton.
 20. Thegarment as recited in claim 18, wherein each said middle absorbent layeris made of cotton.